Clamp.



J. P. WILLIAMS.

CLAMP.

APPLIOATION FILED rmm, 1909.

-1 ,0313306. Patented July 2, 1912.

COLUMBIA VLANuuR/nm co.. WASHINGTON, D; c.

UNITED STATES. PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES P. WILLIAMS, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE DE LONG HOOK AND EYE COMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION CLAMP.

To all whom it may concern:

Be itknown that I, JAMES P. WVILLIAMS, a citizen of the United States, residing in Philadelphia, county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clamps, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in clamps, and it has for its object to provide a clamp in which the gripping members or jaws are normally separated and which possesses efiiciency of action combined with simplicity and economy of construction.

My new clamp is intended primarily for use in holding the edges of skins when such skins are stretched between suitable supports for drying or for enameling. However, it may be used for analogous purposes if desired.

A further object of my invention is to provide a clamp which is adapted to engage or hold a minimum margin portion of the skin or other object which is supported thereby.

A convenient embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings but it is to be understood that I am not limited to the details of construction shown therein, and that various changes in the construction may be made within the scope of my claim.

In the drawings :Figure 1 is a side elevation of a clamp embodying my invention, showing the manner of connecting the same to a suitable support and also showing the material held by the said clamp; Fig. 2 is a plan view of one of the jaws of my clamp; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view on the line 33 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4: is an end elevation of my clamp; Fig. 5 is an end elevation of a slightly modified construction; Fig. 6 is an end elevation of a second modified construction of clamp; and Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the last-named construction.

In the drawings :1 designates generally a clamp which consists of sheet metal bent U-shape so that the end portions of the blank are located opposite to each other and constitute the jaws 2 and 3 of the clamp. In order to strengthen the jaws, the opposite edges thereof are respectively provided with flanges 4, the said flanges preferably, though not necessarily, extending toward each. other as indicated in the drawings.

The ends of the jaws 2 and 3 are also pro- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 6, 1909.

Patented July 2, 1912.

Serial No. 476,502.

vided with flanges or inwardly turned portions 5. In Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, these inwardly turned portions register with each other, that is to say'lie in the same plane so that when the jaws of the clamp are moved toward each other the said inwardly turned portions 5 meet as shown most clearly in Fig. 1 of the drawings. These inwardly turned portions which may be regarded as the gripping or biting means of the clamp may be serrated or provided with teeth as indicated in Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings at 10.

In Fig. 4 the points of these teeth contact or register with each other, while in Fig.

5 the teeth are arranged in staggered relation so that the teeth upon one of the members 5 enter the depressions between the teeth in the other one of the said members.

In Figs. 6 and 7 the projecting portions 12, corresponding to the portions 5 in the preceding figures, are arranged in difi'erent planes so that when the jaws of the clamp are pressed together as shown in Fig. 7, the gripping or holding portions 12 overlap each other, the material to be held by the said clamp being clasped between the said over-lapping members and the jaws in an obvious manner.

In the several forms of construction, the bight or bent portion 13 of the clamp is shown as narrowed by reason of the pres ence of notches 14 at that point. The depth of these notches may be varied at will consequently varying the width of the plate at that point, and therefore varying the strength of the clamp at the bight or bend. The opposing jaws are provided with holes or slots 15 and 16 spaced or separated as indicated in the drawings. These holes or slots are separated by cross pieces or strips 18. The material cut out to form the slot 16 is bent inwardly to form flanges 19 which serve the purpose of strengthening the cross pieces or strips 18 and also the further purpose of providing a smooth bearing surface.

For the purpose of drawing and holding the jaws together to clasp and hold the material 21 in the said clamp, I provide a cord 22 which extends through the said holes or slots 15 and 16 and over the cross pieces or strips 18, the said cord being tied or connected together at 24 so as to constitute a loop around the said cross pieces or strips. The cord is extended from the knot 24 rearwardly through a hole 25 in the bight or bend of the clamp and may be connected to a support 26 indicated in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

By enlarging or decreasing the size of the hole 25 the strength or tension of the clamp at the bight or bend may be still further varied or controlled.

In the use of my clamp, the edge of the material to be held thereby is inserted between the jaws of the clamp and the jaws closed together as illustrated in Fig. 1 and are held closed together by pulling upon the cord 22. This pull is exerted axially of the clamp and certain components of the force of the pull or strain upon the said cord are exerted in directions transverse to and at right angles to the plane of the jaws 2 and 3 of the clamp. The strength of these components of force will vary inversely as the lengths of the portions of the cord from the cross pieces 18 to the knot or point of connectionQt are varied.

A clamp constructed according to my invention is free from hinges or pivots connecting diflerent portions thereof together and is not likely to get out of order or broken. Being stamped out of and formed from a single piece of flat metal itmay be constructed at a minimum expense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim A clamp consisting of a metallic spring plate bent to U-shape, the opposite sides of the said U-shaped plate constituting the aws of the clamp, the said jaws having holes therein and having strips located between the said holes, a flexible member having a loop which is in engagement with the said strips, the said flexible member extending from the said loop rearwardly through a hole provided in the bight or bend connecting the said jaws, the said flexible member being adapted tobe connected to a support and to exert a pulling force upon the said clamp to hold the said jaws together.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have hereunto signed my name this 5th day of February, A. D.

JAMES P. WILLIAMS. In the presence of CYRUS N. ANDERSON, CARRIE E. KLEINFELDER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

